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Law Student Who Fought Off Gunman Gets $30,000 Scholarship

A Florida State University law student who helped stop a gunman who killed two people at a Tallahassee yoga studio earlier this month is receiving $30,000 to help cover his educational costs.

The university’s president and board of trustees on Friday committed their own personal funds to second-year Joshua Quick for his bravery. Quick was in attendance at the board meeting and spoke briefly, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

“I want to offer my gratitude to everybody,” Quick said. “Thank you all for the recognition I don’t feel I deserve.”

Quick was at the Hot Yoga Studio in Tallahassee with others on Nov. 2 when Scott Beierle entered and opened fire. Quick said in an interview with Good Morning America that he attacked Beierle with a vacuum cleaner and hit him on the head when his gun stopped shooting, possibly due to a jam.

Beierle then hit Quick with his gun leaving him bloodied, but Quick recovered and grabbed a broom and hit Beierle again. The exchange allowed other yoga patrons to escape the building. Six people were shot. Doctor Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and undergraduate Maura Binkley, 21, died from their injuries. Beierle shot and killed himself before police arrived.

“This young man saved lives in a moment of stress," said Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Burr on Friday. "He responded heroically.”

Two days earlier, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum honored Quick with the keys to the city, hailing the law student as a hero.

"We often credit our first responders for running toward danger when the rest of us run from it," Gillum said. "And although you may not be a sworn first responder, we are so thankful on behalf of those who were able to survive the attack for your quick action, for your adrenaline, for your bravery, for your willingness to stand in the gap on behalf of others."

But Quick has downplayed his actions in public remarks, saying that others in the yoga studio also helped fight off their attacker.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude," he said and last week’s city commission meeting. "I cannot overstate my gratitude to everybody—the first responders and even the people who were in the yoga studio with me who saw firsthand what transpired.”

Meanwhile, Florida State University President John Thrasher said he hoped the Board of Trustees’ donations would ease the financial burden of Quick’s legal education.

“We are going to start an effort to take care of the rest of his time at our law school,” he said. “I want you to know how much gratitude we have for what you did.”